The AFLW’s emerging powers meet this weekend in a finals clash that serves as a symbol for the league’s maturity, and is amplified by a heated all-in shoving match last week that is still being investigated by the AFL.
Hawthorn host Port Adelaide on Saturday night in an elimination semi-final at Ikon Park, as two of the league’s newcomers chase glory in their first finals appearances. Both teams joined the competition in its final phase of expansion in 2022 and neither had made the eight until this season.
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While minor premiers North Melbourne and defending premiers Brisbane – who beat Hawthorn in a tense affair on Sunday – remain the favourites for the competition, these two upstarts have been the competition’s major movers in 2024 and loom as genuine premiership threats.
Some had accused Hawthorn – who finished the 11-game home-and-away season in second place – of having benefited from a weak draw, but they proved their credentials in pushing the Lions to the brink on Sunday, and were within a kick of their opponents when the siren sounded – and the argy bargy began.
It involved around a dozen players who had to be separated and is reportedly still being reviewed by the AFL’s integrity unit.
Hawks vice-captain Eliza West said on Thursday “something happened involving a player” but “we’ll let people who know how to deal with that, deal with that, and we’ll focus on what we can do on the field”.
Port are on a seven-game winning streak including a 24-point victory over Richmond last week. Yet they haven’t beaten Hawks in the AFLW and have never won at Ikon Park.
“They’re on a roll, and they’ll bring it,” said West. “We’re just focusing on our strengths and how to get back to being on the winners list.”
The 27-year-old was one of six Hawks named to the All Australian squad this week, the largest cohort from any single club. The players were informed via a prank, after staff told them they were getting fined.
“I was a bit worried initially, but once we got told it was the All-Australian squad, I was absolutely stoked,” West said. “Everyone was shocked, but the group really celebrated us and celebrated us hard.”
Three Port Adelaide players also received selection: defender Amelie Borg, midfielder Shineah Goody and ruck Matilda Scholz. All are 19. Power coach Lauren Arnell has described Borg as the club’s on-field leader given the ACL injury to captain Janelle Cuthbertson.
“[Borg] has been here since day one as a 17-year-old finishing school, you look at the development of her on and off field, she’s been exceptional,” Arnell said last week.
“Her work off field as well to help lead this group, and just be a genuinely good teammate, and work her backside off every week really sets the tone for the group and without Janelle out there, she’s the leader.”
Scholz is also nominated for Mark of the Year and the Rising Star award.
West said she was aware of Port Adelaide’s quality, but said “they’ll have to match it with us”.
“Credit to them, they’re on a roll and doing really well,” West said. “But us too, I think we’ve had an outstanding season and looking at a team like that it’s just any regular game, and so we will bring our strengths.”
The other semi-final is between Adelaide and Fremantle at Norwood Oval where the temperature on Saturday afternoon is forecast to reach the mid-30s.
The All-Australian team will be announced on 25 November during grand final week.
